[Video] Rand Paul vs. John Kerry at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Syria 9/3/13

[opinionatedfool]

I don't think so. He solicited a prescribed response with the most relevant question of the entire discussion. And it's when things got serious. Now it's up to his base to continue that. Is required synergy.

I think he started out well, but Kerry kinda got the upper hand at the end, even though he was dead wrong.

 

[opinionatedfool]

He needed to be armed with more intel data that proved his "less stable" argument over Kerry's "more stable" argument. Kerry gained the upper hand when he said it was a "certainty" that the situation would devolve without U.S. intervention. Rand made good points on reinforcing the constitutional argument that are now on the record. Except that I wish he would have simply asked Kerry where Obama derived his power to engage militarily. That could have been a game changer.

I'm guessing Rand had other questions planned, but had to change course because he was a later questioner and his original questions may have been touched on by others.

 

[Kords21]

Rand is just playing his usual brand of political chess with these people. Unfortunately, I think he's right that Obama and the other warmongers will get their vote and make the usual deadly blunder that accompanies these things. When this thing goes south, all these Reps and Senators that vote yes will have some hell to pay on this. Rand is thinking 3 to 4 steps ahead of these people, at least that's what I like to think.

 

[anaconda]

Look at the tan - or rather lack of, around his eyes...

-t

The raccoon eyes from the sunglasses is a permanent thing now with Rand.

 

[jtstellar]

rand was outclassed here, he wasnt on his game

He needed to be armed with more intel data that proved his "less stable" argument over Kerry's "more stable" argument. Kerry gained the upper hand when he said it was a "certainty" that the situation would devolve without U.S. intervention. Rand made good points on reinforcing the constitutional argument that are now on the record. Except that I wish he would have simply asked Kerry where Obama derived his power to engage militarily. That could have been a game changer.

platforms like these the establishment will always have the upper hand

the two lines kerry got slipped in from underneath is the implied notion that he somehow possesses secret info nobody knows about in his 'classified' sessions and that he's got 'war experience', neither of which contributes much to a debate but does help to woo the low-info boot-licking audience. it is up to rand to win this uphill battle with more effective rhetorical counters and indeed it is within his capability to do that, but i'm also going to emphasize it is the establishment that starts out at a point of advantage in these types of platform. and also perhaps, to someone who sees 'class' in all of this, or enough he so decides to dirty his mouth by opining on it publicly, that he may be dangerously close to the 'boot-licking' low info audience i was referring to.

 

[anaconda]

it's ok

i'm pretty sure rand will head back to the lab right after this to work on his next delivery.. he improves with every obstacle and i have no doubt it will be the same this time

Right. Every time he falters a little he just comes back more impressive than ever.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

General response on twitter: "Kerry just slammed non-vet Rand Paul"

Search for "Rand Paul" on twitter to see what I mean. This did not make Rand more likeable.

That's because you searched for "Rand Paul". Allies use #StandWithRand. Try again.

 

[juleswin]

Right. Every time he falters a little he just comes back more impressive than ever.

I doubt he will be doing any comeback. For one there is no time for a second act and 2, he swallowed the govt line that Assad side used the chemical weapon. I cannot understand why he is so quick to believe the intel on this seeing how often the intel lies us into war. Kerry got him good in the fight

 

[Rocco]

I thought Rand was on the receiving end of an impressive speech at the end, but at the beginning did a fantastic job of making Kerry and the Obama administration look like the hypocrites that they are. His only mistake was not responding more strongly when Kerry turned the question back on him, the rest was just Kerry being impressive and there's not much Rand can do about that.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Okay, can someone make a version with McCain not in it? I can hardly bear to watch that smug SOB. Dear God, I hate that man.

 

[trey4sports]

Great stuff! Plenty of youtube fodder. That smug prick is a piece of trash.

 

[specsaregood]

What a let down. Rand really under performed in this clip. How is it that he did not doubt the administration accretion that it was Assad who used chemical weapons. Once you give it to that, the whole game is over. Also when Kerry said that Hezbollah and Iran would be emboldened if we did not attack, why didn't he counter that American's No. 1 enemy Al Qaeda will gain if we attacked?

Just disappointed with this whole exchange

I can only assume you didn't listen to the entire hearing then. all that stuff you asked was brought up by the dozen plus pro-war congressman that went before Rand. And brought up a friendly way -- lobbed over the plate -- as to give Kerry an easy base hit. And for any tough stuff, he said he couldn't talk about it in the public hearing but would be presenting those answers in the classified hearing tomorrow. They used up and dismissed all the obvious talking points/arguments Rand could have used before he had a chance to speak.

 

[jtstellar]

I doubt he will be doing any comeback. For one there is no time for a second act and 2, he swallowed the govt line that Assad side used the chemical weapon. I cannot understand why he is so quick to believe the intel on this seeing how often the intel lies us into war. Kerry got him good in the fight

cus you debate with what's available at hand..

when you wander into midst of questioning people's character who provided those info you start going all over the place and nobody ends up taking you seriously and nobody will know what you're trying to say within your 10 given minutes.. unless you have solid evidence you could present under 3minutes, as ron wyden did to james clapper, you can't prove someone is lying right there and you will have wasted time you could at least otherwise use to point out the hypocrisy of the establishment in their desire to completely usuprp power from the people

 

[georgiaboy]

Okay, can someone make a version with McCain not in it? I can hardly bear to watch that smug SOB. Dear God, I hate that man.

..but, your avatar, LE ..

 

[Dianne]

that was only ok by rand's standard..

he needs more time. he performs better than ron under time constraint but it is still limited beneath his real potential. but it's ok, he is someone who adapts and improves quickly

No doubt in my mind this will pass... Iran and Syria the only two countries in the mid east not within the World Bank, and they must go according to the anti Christ .... O bomb ya

 

[dillo]

I bet they know more than you do. The amount of opposition Hagel faced was unprecedented for a Defence nominee. Clearly, lots of Zionists saw him as a threat. Even the Anti-Defamation League was worried. lol

controlled opposition

 

[supermario21]

Bill Kristol is literally the Dick Morris of warfare...yet once he becomes no longer a Fox exclusive Kristol gets snapped up by every other MSM network out there!

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Hey Kerry, if Russia dropped bombs on us, would you not call it an act of war?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

I saw the protestors trolling Kerry too. Kerry's response was laughable.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Well Boxer is on board too. Same partisan horseshit. ...